Al Beloushi lifts Baja World title
Star Emirati rider sets another milestone
Emirati star rider Mohammad Al Beloushi clinched the Bajas World Title on Saturday in Hungary to become the first ever FIM world champion from the UAE.
“I am very happy to have been able to put this medal to the achievements of the UAE. Our country came a long way in the motorsport and it’s an honour to be able to make this humble contribution, and a motive of great pride to have my name next to the UAE flag, engraved forever in the FIM records,” said Al Beloushi after the big triumph.
“I hope to also represent well the Arab world and do justice to so many great athletes who work hard, and keep pushing their limits, always following their passion. I’m struggling with words right now to describe how proud and happy I feel for me and my team, for my country, for the sport,” he added.
The weekend was filled with drama at Veszprén, the picturesque city hosting the last round of the World Cup in Hungary.
Heavy rain over the past week ravaged the rally terrain, resulting on many areas of the planned route of the race becoming completely inaccessible that were eventually modified by the organisers.
With over 15 years of career as professional athlete under his belt, Al Beloushi is not new to difficulties.
Mahir Badri, managing director at Sports2, the engine behind new World Champion’s International Race Programme, said: “it took us years working as a team, we faced a lot of challenges, and struggled a lot to reach to this point. This achievement is the result of the hard work.
“Even when it looked that we couldn’t go on, we never stopped believing in the project and in the dream of taking the UAE to a scene that has been ruled by Europeans throughout its history.
“We believed we could win this for our people and today the dream is a reality. We are very proud of working with such an amazing athlete like Mohammad. We need to thank all of those companies and friends who supported the project.”
Determined to win
The last day at Hungarian Baja started with rain and changing terrain moving from slippery mud, to dry and rocky areas, back to thicker, sticky and deeper mud.
Al Beloushi had to battle with mechanical problems, struggling with his KTM’s petrol pump all day, which continued failing when getting in touch with water. These difficulties costed him in the end a penalty which threatened with setting him back in the results, but luckily the advantage accumulated earlier in the race and in season, allowed him to sustain his position and emerge as the new King of Bajas.
“This moment is very overwhelming, and I will probably need a few days for this to sink in and get used to the idea that I’m world champion, the dream of my life. But I couldn’t have done without the backing of many people and companies.
“Of course, Sports2 and my dear friend Mahir Badri who have never let go my hand, but also Redbull who have been a strong support and dear friends for many years, Yahsat Satellite Internet because without their support at the early stage of this programme we wouldn’t have had the chance to move forward, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Maximus Air and Al Ain water gave us their backing when needed, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council allowed us to continue dreaming at a point in which we were struggling a lot.
“The ATCUAE granted us the permissions to participate without objections and in many cases even waving the cost of the permits relieving the burden on our always skinny budget. When you are a small private team like us, every single bit of support counts and makes a difference.”